Why travel with Africa Odyssey

We create the finest African safaris, Safari holidays and honeymoons throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. Whether a simple island beach break, a pan-African helicopter adventure or a private safari to the heart of the Serengeti's Great Migration, all of our itineraries are entirely tailor-made.

Our dedicated team has gained an awesome combined knowledge over many decades of arranging safaris for the most demanding of clients, and we can guarantee the very best and most up-to-date safari advice. Our credentials could not be better: our M.D. is a judge of The Good Safari Guide and a retired director of the African Travel and Tourism Association. Our Tanzania director is the author of the Cadogan Guide to Tanzania and all of our team have worked, lived or travelled extensively in their specialist African countries.

This website has been entirely written by us, and provides a wealth of impartial and often highly opinionated information, and is a great place to start your planning. However, we also arrange face to face presentations in our offices in London, using our videos, maps and brochures with real, interactive, human guidance and clear explanations! For those who cannot make it in person we can arrange a virtual presentation which simply requires you to be sitting in front of a computer.

However, we strongly recommend that you call us, in the US on 1-866 356 4691 (toll free) or in the UK on 020 8704 1216 to start the ball rolling. Show more

Our dedicated team has gained an awesome combined knowledge over many decades of arranging safaris for the most demanding of clients, and we can guarantee the very best and most up-to-date safari advice. Our credentials could not be better: our M.D. is a judge of The Good Safari Guide and a retired director of the African Travel and Tourism Association. Our Tanzania director is the author of the Cadogan Guide to Tanzania and all of our team have worked, lived or travelled extensively in their specialist African countries.

This website has been entirely written by us, and provides a wealth of impartial and often highly opinionated information, and is a great place to start your planning. However, we also arrange face to face presentations in our offices in London, using our videos, maps and brochures with real, interactive, human guidance and clear explanations! For those who cannot make it in person we can arrange a virtual presentation which simply requires you to be sitting in front of a computer.

However, we strongly recommend that you call us, in the US on 1-866 356 4691 (toll free) or in the UK on 020 8704 1216 to start the ball rolling.

Planning an

African Safari Holiday

can be a daunting undertaking. There are so many countries and types of safari to choose from, all with their own character and something slightly different to offer. So where to start? Factors to consider include your travel dates (and thus climate), the composition of your travelling party (any children?), your budget, the types of activities you would like to experience, and the remainder of your itinerary (Cape Town? / Victoria Falls? / beach extension?).

East Africa or Southern Africa? The first big decision is whether to take your safari in East Africa (Tanzania / Kenya / Uganda / Rwanda) or to safari in Southern Africa (Botswana / Zambia / Zimbabwe / South Africa / Namibia).
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East African Safaris

includes the Masai Mara, the Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Selous; all world-famous safari destinations. Depending when you travel, you may also have the opportunity to witness the extraordinary Great Migration. Beach extensions are easily accessible from here, with both Tanzania and Kenya having their own Indian Ocean coastlines, and Zanzibar is just a short hop away. East Africa has an equatorial climate, with little seasonal variation in temperature, and it is dry in our summer. For more detailed information on Tanzania Safaris and Tanzania Honeymoons please see our dedicated Tanzania site

Southern African Safaris

includes the Okavango Delta and Chobe, Kruger and Luangwa National Parks, all excellent safari destinations. Extensions to Victoria Falls and/or Cape Town are popular. Beach extensions from here include Southern Mozambique, Mauritius and the Seychelles (the latter two particularly being very child-friendly), but these are slightly less accessible than the corresponding East Africa beach extensions. Southern Africa has different climate zones, but bear in mind that as it is south of the equator, their summer time is the December – March period.

Where to stay on Safari?

The next consideration is which national park / reserve / concession will offer the best game viewing and safari activities for your travel dates. There is usually a good range of accommodation to choose from according to your budget and personal taste, including safari mobile camps, small tented camps, permanent safari lodges and large hotels. Tented Safari camps can still be extremely luxurious (often with private plunge pools and all the bells and whistles), though the semi-permanent mobile safari camps that track the path of the migration are more basic.

Safari holidays activities

The types of activities on offer vary slightly between countries and areas. In particular, the national parks tend to have more regulations and restrictions than reserves and private concessions. Safaris in Northern Tanzania and Kenya are predominantly based on (daytime) game drives, with perhaps an occasional walking or boating safari. Zambia and Botswana, by contrast, offer a wide range of activities, including walking, boating, night drives and possibly fly camping.

How much will a safari holiday cost? and how long should i go on safari for ?

Safari is considerably more expensive than time on a beach, and as a general rule, safari is more expensive in Southern Africa (approx $700-$1,500 per person per night) than in East Africa (approx $400-$800 per person per night). We generally recommend between 3 and 6 nights on safari – you need long enough to 'get' the experience, but safari can be tiring (early starts, long distances, lots of time in the vehicle) and you don't want to get safari-ed out. You will need to weigh up safari against the rest of your itinerary, and decide how to split both your time and budget between them.
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Alex's Serengeti North operation has more to offer than its competitors - fly camping, walking and an amazing northern location. Alex has been running camps and guiding in Africa for a very long time and his expertise and knowledge are evident in the perfect safari atmosphere we think he has created around the camp.

Duma Tao Located under the shady covering of a forest of large mangosteen trees close to the source of the Savute Channel, Duma Tau overlooks a large hippo filled lagoon and offers some of the most diverse wildlife viewing in Botswana.

What a truly exceptional camp! Tafika is one of the remaining owner-run camps in Africa with John and Carol ever present. The result is a camp that genuinely cares for each and every one of its guests.

Baraza is luxurious all inclusive 30 bedroom hotel located on the South East coast of Zanzibar next door its sister hotels, Palms and Breezes. Lovely food with a choice of bars and restaurants to eat in, one of the best spas on the island a great hotel for both the honeymooners and the family.